Wuhan hospital director dies after contracting virus

The director of the leading hospital in Wuhan, China, where the rapidly spreading coronavirus originated, reportedly died of the infection he contracted while treating patients.

The Wuchang Hospital director, Liu Zhiming, became infected with coronavirus and died despite “all-out” attempts to save him, The Associated Press reported on Tuesday, citing an announcement from Wuhan’s health bureau. 

Liu is the seventh health worker to die of coronavirus, or COVID-19, infection, and more than 1,700 doctors and nurses have become sick, according to the AP. 

The Wuchang Hospital reportedly was designated solely to treat coronavirus patients. 

Coronavirus has spread globally since originating in Wuhan, but the overwhelming majority of cases remain in mainland China. 

China reported 1,866 new cases Tuesday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 72,436.  Ninety-eight new deaths were also reported, bringing the total of deaths in mainland China to 1,868.